You may have caught on the news that a group of foster carers (and former foster carers) have formed a trade union attached to the Independent Workers of Great Britain.The carers say they are concerned about their lack of employment rights - such as sick pay - and not having representation when disputes arise.Anything that's good for children in care is good for fostering, and if having a trade union...
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Thursday, September 15, 2016
UPDATE ON LATEST PLACEMENT
Time for a quick update on our recent arrival. I say 'recent' but time flies, he's part of the family now, but in his own way.
That's the big difference between foster children and one's own children; foster children have begun to be who they are going to be before they get to you. Your own children grow into themselves with you alongside, so whether everything's alright or not, your own children...
Saturday, September 10, 2016
PROGRESS
In fostering a large part of the fun is watching progress. There's always plenty to drive you up the wall; clothes strewn over bedroom floors, toothbrushes obviously not used for three days despite assurances, vegetable wars, nightly re-negotiations about bedtimes. If you're not careful you might miss the positive developments your child makes. The reason you might miss them is because they aren't...
Monday, September 05, 2016
A READER ASKS
A reader says;
I'd love to hear a post from you about taking foster kids that are older than your biological kids, as it seems from your blog you have done that in the past. Did that work for your family? What are the things you did to help your bios adjust? (I've got 6 and 3 year old daughters. 6 year old is a total alpha dog type. The foster child would either need to be at least a year younger...
Sunday, September 04, 2016
FOSTERING IN THE WHOLE
I sometimes wonder how I'll look back on fostering once I decide to hang up my boots.
Of course, technically I could do that tomorrow; one phone call and you're out if that's what you want. Might take a few days to find new homes for your foster children, but any of us could go back to where we were before we started fostering in the blink of an eye. In fostering, you're not getting into something...